For Fr. Christian Saenz, SJ, his path started with a backpack, a Eurail pass, and a heart seeking God. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, to Colombian parents, Fr. Christian’s life has always been touched by faith.
A Pilgrimage of the Heart
At 18, feeling the stirrings of discernment, he embarked on a solo pilgrimage across Europe, visiting Santiago de Compostela and Rome. In Greece, he found a cave overlooking the sea where he felt God’s voice so clearly: “You are free. If you choose this path, it’s because you want to, not because I force you.”
A Call to Serve
Back home, working in his father’s shipping business, a deeper yearning for meaning persisted. After a close friend’s serious car accident, Fr. Christian applied to the Jesuit novitiate in the Dominican Republic.
Formation and Mission
His formation took him from the novitiate in Santiago, to Fordham University in New York, back to Miami to teach, and to Rome to study theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he now teaches.
Faith Through History and Language
Fr. Christian’s love for history and Latin informs his ministry, celebrating Mass in both the ordinary and extraordinary forms.
Advice for Discerners
”Don’t discern alone. Seek out a spiritual director and let the process take as long as it needs. Vocation is an invitation, not a demand.”
